Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-28
Imnudent Dem ocratic Claims.


A correspondent in the Plain Dealer
has column and a half of editorial
space allowed him in which to vent his
spite against Senator Sherman for his
speech at Nashville. In order to find
excuse for bis railings he enlarges upon
the history of Democracy, its alleged
wonderful services to the country. and
boasts in no measured terms of its
alleged loyalty and patriotism during
the late civil war. He charges the Re-
rublicans in most savage style with
abuse and violence towards Democrats
at this period, accuses them of pursus
ing innocent and unoffending men with
ropes to hang them, and obliging inno'
cent. law-abiding, peaceful Democratic
citizens to flee from their homes to avoid
destruction by the mob. From this
point of view the Democracy was the
real savior of the country during the
war, and the Republicans the deadly
foes of its Unity and prosperity. On
this basis he inds nothing to commead
or approve Ia the lite or speeches of
Senator sherman.
Such rant is scarcely worth rescuing
from oblivion except that it proves how
keenly, at this distance of time, the
Democratic party feels the disgrace of
its traitorous utterancess and conduct,
and the stain can never be washed out
For. all time the brand of disloyality
will rest upon that party, and the guilt
and shame of its actions never be for
gotten. The Republicans need no
defense for their conduct during the
war. Not one of all its millions turned
traitor to his country. On the other
hand, every rebel was a Democrat.
While the brave Union army was fight
ing in the south to preserve the Union.
the Democratic party in the north was
denounced the ar.declaring it failure
nominating in our state for its leader
the traitor Vallandigham, and branding
the devoted soldiers dying daily in de-
fense of their country, as Lincoln hire
lings wearing the collar of their master"
1t il too late to disturb the magni6
cent record of the Republicans. Their
party crushed with its mighty force the
Democratic rebellion, preserved the
Union of the Statas, abolished slavery,
established civil rights, made an anti
slavery constitution, provided free
homes for the landless, established a
system of finance that is the admiration
of mankind, wiped out Of existence the
infamous "White Liners'and "Ku.klux"
all Democrats, and zealously endeav-
ored to protect loyal men and women
from manning and massacre In every
southern state. 1t reconstructed the
rebellious states and provided ample
pensions, to the extent of hundreds of
millions of dollars, for the surviving
wounded and otherwise disabled soldiers
of the war. 1t gave protection toAmer-
industry, under which tFe country has
grown rich and prosperous, and filled
the land with peaceful. happy homes,
and made labor honorable, dignified and
free. No act of that party can be found
depressing the laboring man," while at
this moment more than six million of
human beings are the occupants of
homes and broad acres, given them by
the Republicans against the veto Of a
Democratic President, and the united
support of his party. Can the Plain
Dealer point to any act by any party so
prolific of boundless good and personal
happiness as the passage of this home
stead law?
And what party, if not the Republi+
can, has made the ''stars and STRIVES
hohored and respected as never before
If formerly the flag was the "ensign OF
the Democracy" as claimed by the
writer. IL is now the banner of the
grandest nation on the globe. 1t floats
over no slave, protects no tyrant plying
his lash upon his quivering victim, and
flies over no divided Union or shattered
states. And to the Republican party it
owes its noblest triumphs and lofty
supremacy.